Munro · Central Highlands
Sgairneach Mhor
Sgàirneach Mhòr (991m) — "big stony slope" — is the southernmost of the four Drumochter Munros that flank the A9 glacial pass. The hill is a broad rounded summit with a substantial stone shelter at the cairn, looking south down the Pass of Drumochter towards Glen Garry. Almost always combined with Beinn Udlamain (and often A' Mharconaich) on a three-Munro Drumochter round from the Balsporran Cottages lay-by.
Gaelic: “big” · Pronunciation: sgairneach vore
Quick facts
- Height
- 991.4m/ 3253ft
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 872 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN598731
- Parking
- NN632757
- Nearest city
- Fort William
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
Layby path 20% · Open hillside 50% · Summit 30%
See Beinn Udlamain for the standard Drumochter round. Sgàirneach Mhòr is approached either from Balsporran via the Allt Coire Fhar (continuing south after Beinn Udlamain), or directly from the Coire Dhomhain lay-by on the A9 a few kilometres south. The direct east ridge from Coire Dhomhain is a sustained but steady grass climb. Around 14km with 800m of ascent direct; the full three-Munro Drumochter round is 18km with 1100m up.
Terrain
The Coire Dhomhain lay-by parking is firm but the A9 noise is intrusive at the start. The path west into the corrie crosses wet boggy ground. The east ridge of Sgàirneach Mhòr is sustained heathery hillside with a faint braided path. Above 800m the going turns to gravel and the broad summit dome. The Coire Creagach face on the north-east holds substantial rocky outcrops — keep clear in mist. The summit cairn is a sturdy stone-built shelter.
In winter
A serious open-plateau winter day. Drumochter's notoriously high wind chill makes for exposed continental conditions with little shelter on the broad summit. The north-east face of the summit holds wind-loaded snow after westerly storms. The A9 corridor through Drumochter stays reliably gritted but lay-bys ice over. SAIS Southern Cairngorms is the closest formal forecast.
This hill is in the Creag Meagaidh SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 17m
- Edinburgh3h 32m
OS maps: OS Landranger 42
Mobile signal: Reasonable signal at the Drumochter car park. Signal reduces above 850m. The Drumochter valley corridor has better coverage than most Highland glens.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:28
- Sunset
- 22:04
- Civil dawn
- 03:24
- Civil dusk
- 23:08
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 June 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Sgairneach Mhor.
Around Sgairneach Mhor on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Dalwhinnie station
Highest mainline station; Drumochter Munros; Ben Alder approach
13km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Aberfeldy
Loch Tay base — Ben Lawers, Tarmachan ridge, Birks of Aberfeldy
35km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Dalwhinnie
Dalwhinnie — Scotland's highest distillery on the Drumochter pass
13km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Sgairneach Mhor — common questions
- How hard is Sgairneach Mhor?
- Sgairneach Mhor is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 17km with 872m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-8 hours. Terrain: The Coire Dhomhain lay-by parking is firm but the A9 noise is intrusive at the start.
- Where do I park for Sgairneach Mhor?
- Standard parking is at NN632757 near Fort William. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Sgairneach Mhor?
- The standard good-weather months for Sgairneach Mhor are May, June, July, August, September, October. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
- Can I bring my dog up Sgairneach Mhor?
- Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.
- Is there mobile signal on Sgairneach Mhor?
- Reasonable signal at the Drumochter car park. Signal reduces above 850m. The Drumochter valley corridor has better coverage than most Highland glens.
- Is Sgairneach Mhor safe in winter?
- A serious open-plateau winter day. Drumochter's notoriously high wind chill makes for exposed continental conditions with little shelter on the broad summit. The north-east face of the summit holds wind-loaded snow after westerly storms. The A9 corridor through Drumochter stays reliably gritted but lay-bys ice over. SAIS Southern Cairngorms is the closest formal forecast.
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